Bomb



Aug. 13, 19249. F. LESH 1,724,294

BOMB

Filed July 7, 1928 l 3 Sheets-Speet 2 gmx-mko@ Aug. 13, 1929.

F. LESH BOMB A Filed July 7. l1928V 5- sheets-sheet 3 Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

Ururlao .STATES g 1,724,294 PATENT orifice.

.FRANK-LESH, OF CASPER, WYOMING, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH D. RICHIE,

-' OF CASPER, WYOMING. v

Bonn Application led .Tuly 7,

l I' This invention'relates to improvements in bombs of the type'used by oil well shooters for exploding large charges onitroglycerine or otherhigh explosives. In shooting wells, a large amount of n1- troglycerine'is lowered to, the] bottom of the '.well, vafter which a bomb is lowered into the "wll so as to occupy a position adjacent the nitroglycerin'e; lIt' is necessary to withdraw .1 someof "the casings l'after the charge of eX- "plosive "andfthe bomb have been put into 'place and'fwhen this: is done dirt, sand and 'roclrwill fall down'ffromfthe walls of the well andcompletely bury the explosives. It "is'therefore essential that-fthe 'bombshall be l sfo j'coiistrutedthat it Vwill '-automatically explodeat predetermined time ias the caving in of Vthe' fwell wall'.whe n' the 'casing is with- 'fdrl will. break-any; .electrical conductor l' lit'otherwise be `employed for ex- The '-withdrfawalof the casing requires a A"lar e" ainoulitl of labor and considerable time ','aiifdr' this viea-sonthe explosion of the bomb .25 be"d ef`erreduntil` after this labor has fbfeen"con'rpleted,y f v It 'iso bviouslyl. important for `the work- 'men to know'theexacttime when the bomb "will explode so that they can plan their work so .asto-have everything in readiness for the l' "explosion, and'therefore the bomb should be operated byl 'a time controlled mechanism `that`can be setto explode the bomb at any time desired. y Itis evident that a premature explosion of abomb of 'this ltype vis likely to cause a large f'amount of material damage and perhaps the loss of life and-therefore it is essential that the bomb shall be vprovided with a safety device that will fprevent it from exploding prematurely.v lIt is the object of this invention to produce a bomb that shall be so 'constructed that it will not explode prematurely and which can be set soasto explode at any predetermined time.

' The above and other objects that will hereinafter appear are attained by means of a construction that will now be described in detail and reference for this purpose will be had to the accompanying drawings in which the preferred construction has been illus- 'trate'd and in which:

Fig. '1 -'is a vertical section taken on line 192s. serial No. 290,921.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section taken on line Fig. 3 is a vertical section toa' somewhat enlarged scale 'taken on line 3 3, Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a longitudinal diametrical section of one of the anvils;v Fig. 5 is a top plan view'looking downwardly along plane 5 5, Fig..1`;

Fig. 6 is a section tak non line 6 6, Figl; T

Fig. 7'isa section taken. on line 7 7, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section taken on line 8 8, Figi'l.; if f .i

Fig. 9 is va section taken '.on` line 9 9, Fig. 5; f

Fig. 10 is a section 'takenionline i Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view showingf base of the bomb and 2 the metal -tubef' which forms part of thebomb structure. Secured to the metal tube a short vdistance above the base l1 is a. partition 3. This partition, as Well as the base 1, is held in place by means of screws 4. Secured to the tube at spaced distances and located above the partition 3, are four other partitions which have been designated by numerals 5, 6, 7 and 8. These partitions are separated by means of spacers 9 and held together by means of screws 10. Partitions 5, 6, 7 and 8, as well as partition 3, form bearings for diii'erent spindles and arbors that form part of the operating mechanism which will now be described in detail.

Pivot-ed in suitable bearings in partitions 7 and 8 is an arbor 11. This forms the spring arbor to which one end of spring 12 is connected in the manner shown in Figure 6. The other end of spring 12 is connected to4 one of the spacers 9. Nonrotatably secured to the arbor 11 is a ratchet 'wheel 13 and located directly above this ratchet wheel and rotatable with respect to it and with respect to the arbor 11, is a gear wheel 14. This gearwheel has its outer periphery provided with teeth 15. A pawl 16 is pivotally'connected with this gear and is heldin operative engagement with the ratchet wheel 13 by means of a suitable sprinwhicli has iiot been shown. Rotatably secured to the lower end of arbor 11 is a pinion 17 T hisupinion has an arm 18 vwhose outer end b eptfup'- wardly at right angles and project'sthrough an opening in the gear 14. Pinion 17 cooperates with a gear 19 that is pivoted'at 20. Gear 19 is meshedl withanother andL iarger gear 21 that is secured to a rotatable spindle 22 by means of atrictionclutghiarrangement which has been illustrated vin Figure 9 from which it willvbe lseenth'ztt the gear 21 is provided with an elongated .hub 23 that is split longitudinally andhalSone end provided with a screw.-24ewhoseyinner end engages the groove 25 intheIspindl22. Screw 24 is .adjusted so that-there lwill-ghe considerable friction land zwhich; wille-.make it possible for the gear 2l to rotate the spindle 22 andat the" same timefpermitthe spindle to be rotated with respectztoietle gear Whensutlicient orcefis fappliedxto'ithe cap 26. Cap 26 is secured to the uppre'l 'of spindle 22 Vby means-ofeanpin 27 .and is provided with a circular disk 28 gthat's provided on one''isideffvit-h'v saie( ordial 29 which divides the circumferenceztrtliis disk into' twentyrfourfeqalrpart's .'whcldare numbered consecutively from onefto twentyfou'r in 'the' manner'fshowns in' .Figure 5. Spindle 22 extends' through all `ftheprtitioi1`s and has its Vlower'end'pivotedix1f=tl1efbear ing 30 in base r1 in the mannerf-shew'rrin Figure 1. Secured to'the-lowerfe'ndf 'spindle 22 directly abovepartitini is a) safety device' 31 which 'consists4 offaws'ubtatial-ly semicircular disk of considerable" thiclmes. Reterence'will be hadv hereinafterf toRthis disk and tothe function-'which--it peri'orns in the operation of this apparatus; Secured to spindle 22 between partitions `3 hndf'5is a detentdisk which has' been indicated'by reference nu1neral'32. This disk has" one side provided with alcurved vnotch 433. The function of this detent and its mode'of-operation will be hereinafter finore".-ful`ly"de scribed. 5:

Referring now more particularly-to Figure 12, it will be seen that 'gear wheel 214 isV connected by means ot a gear train'to anescapement which comprises 'an escapeme'nt wheel 34 and escapenient leverf35'fandabalance wheel 36. The balance wheel is controlled by means of a hair spring 37,- all-in the manner Well understood in vconnection with clockmechanisms. Itis apparent that gear wheel 14 can only rotate at a .speed which is determined by .the escapement and therefore the spring 12, together with Ithe gear train and the escapement form a mechanism that operates at a predetermined speed and in 'which the' dieren-t gearfwheel's? require a predetermined amountfo time for each rotation. Since the varborjll is thus rotated at a predetermined rate, it is evident thatthe spindle 22 :which isjconnected to this arbor by means of a gear train consisting ofa pinion 17 and gears 19 and 21 will `also'rotate at a predetermined rate. In the actual construction the parts have been so .adjusted that spindle 22 will make one complete revolution in twenty-four hours, althoughlit is, of course, evident that any other rate of rotation may be employed, but .for the purpose of thisexplanation it will be .assumedthat spindle 22 rotates one com- .plete revolution. in twenty-four hours and that therefore veach of the divisions on the .s eale 29 v,represent one hour in time.

'fjLocatedbetween partitions 5 and 6 is a --springf38which has one end `fastened to a fstationary post`39 and the other end secured pto t-hearbor 40. .Arbor 40 extends upwardly .through partitions 7 and 8 and terminates -in ,a square. endvportion' 41 that can be en- 4.gaged-by,a-keybynneans of which it yis ro- --,taj:edA foravthegpurpose. of. tensioningv the ispringa?. Securedto,the.arbor .4 0 between partitionsfandgsfa ratehetwheel142 and -locatdniabove.thisratchet:wheel is a gear jgwheel- 448-ftliat.,.is provided ,ont its lower sur- -ae With-glregessain, which. the ratchet :Wheel-q42 `is .locatedmgSecured to thelgear -wheel'i`43 .is a pawl..44that is adapted to engage the teeth of the yratchetwheel 42 and is `urgedtowards the ratchet wheel by means [o fgthespring 45.. .Gear wheel 43.cooperates .'with a pinion 46 V'that is attached to an arbor f47 towhioh is also attached a gear wheel 48. Gear wheel 48 cooperates with a pinion .4S-that'is-rigidlyattached to a4 shaft 50 :that carries'two fan blades 51. These fan .blades form a. retarding device and also cooperate 4withmember 32 to form a detent. vSecured. to the lower end of arbor 40 is a fnpinion 52; which is of considerable width in the manner shown in Figure 11. The partition 3 is provided with a threaded opening 53 in which is located a threaded latching l member54 that extends downwardly and is formed integral with a gear wheel 55. The parts are so arranged that when the arbor 40 is rotated inthe direction of the arrow in Figure 11, in which direction the spring 38 is tensioned, that gear wheel 55 and plug -54 will berotated so that the latter will move downwardly. It will be seen from Figure 11 that the latching member 54 is provided with a conical point 56.

Referring now to Figure 5 it will be seen that the upper end of arbor 41 is provided with a gear wheel 57. that has been shown as -having'six teeth 58. One of these teeth 58" is longer than the other teeth. Secured to 'a pivot 5'9 is another gear wheel -60 that in the illustration .shown is provided with tive teeth 61. The depression between each of these teeth is of suiiicient depth to permit the long tooth 58 to pass but one of these depressions which has been indicated bv llO numeral 62 is shallower than the others and will not permit the long tooth 58 to pass. With the parts as shown in Figure 5, itis apparent that the arbor 41 can be rotated in the direction of the arrow, but that it cannot be rotated in the opposite direction and therefore it is apparent that when the tooth 58 engages the depression 62, that-these two parts form a lock or a stop-that limits the rotation in this direction. The gears 57 and 60 in Figure 5, are in the position in which they are found when the latching member 54 occupies the position shown in Figure 3.

Attention will now be directed to Figure 12 in which the relationship of ,theldetent 32 and of the retarder blades 51 has been shown. From this ligure it'will be seen that the cut-'out portion 33 of the detent member '32 is curved substantially concentric with the arbor 50 and therefore when this 'detent is in such a position that its center -of curvature coincides with the axis of .arbor 5,0"the'blades` 5l will be free to rotate, but

ifA it is rotated a 'few vdegrees away from this vparticular posit-ion, the `ends of the blades v51l will strike the detent- ,32 which the arbor 40., the parts with'which it is asl-so'ci'ated will be held against rotation 'so long as the detentl 32 lhas any portion thereof interposed in the path of the 'bladesy 51, but

spindle 22 is rotated -to a predetern'nned fposition, thedetent 32 will be moved out of the path of 'rotation of blades 51 and spring '38 will then function to rotate the arbor 40 in such a direction as to move the latching member 54 from the position shown in Figure 3 to the position shown in Figure 11.

rIhe base 1 is provided with two downwardly extending bosses 63 which have axial openings 64. These openings are composed of three sections, a, b and c. Section b is smaller in diameter than section c and section al, is larger in diameter than either of the other two. An anvil 65 of the shape illustrated in F igure 4 is adapted to be inserted in each opening 64 and has its end 66 of somewhat larger diameter than the lower end whereby a shoulder 67 is formed that is adapted to rest on the shoulder between sections b and c. This anvil has a central opening 68 and is adapted to receive a cap 69 of the type employed in connection with ,Shotguns or other fire arms. TW hen this anvil is in place, its upper end will extend slight-ly above the upper surface of the base l. Base 1 is'provided with two spaced lugs 69 and 70 between which is pivoted a hammer 71. This hammer is secured to the lugs by means of a pintle 72 and is provided with a notch 73. A spring 74 has two coils which surroundl the pintle 72 and these coils have their connecting portions 75 resting on the vupper surface of base 1, while the free ends 76 of these coils extend'ontothe upper sur'- faceof the hammer 71in the manner shown in Figure 3. rllhe upper end of hammer 71 is provided with'a conical? opening 77 which is adapted 'to receive the conical projection 56 of the latchingjmem'ber 54. When the hammer' is moved upwardly into the position shown in 4'Figure 3,A and the arbor 40 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow, the 'latchingmember' 54 is moved downwardly so that 'itszend 563Will enter the conical recess 77 and hold the hammer in kthe position shownV inopposition to theaction of the spr-ing.l i .f f f I want to call attention at this point tothel positive constructionof the 'latching means just described. Since the 'latching member 54 has a lthreaded connection vwith the partition, it cannot be moved x longitudinally without first being rotated and: therefore there is 'scarcely any chance of. this -latching member beingaccidentally displaced so' as'to release lthe 'hammer .prematurely.l :'VVhen the llatching member -54'ismotated s o as tozinove In orderfto 'fincreasethe .and to make Vit'alosolutely sure" thattheiham mer cannot exploi'le'fthe ca`}.; "s=69,y except at a predetermined' time',l fthe spindle 221has^been provided withfasafety device '31,? :which consists of asubstantially f' semi-circular f disk that is providedwith'ia .hub'fiS fand isfnonrotatably securedy tol-the t-spidle. 22.'.vr The hammer 71 'hasthe shapeindicated4 -by the dotted lines in Figure2 'from whi'ch'it willlbe seen that one lcorner -is 'cut' Yat sforty-'five degrees so as to leave'daigonalsurface 79 and this surface has a circular'recess 80A thatfits about the hub 78. When the vsafety .member 31 is in such a positionfthat the diametricall surface is parallel'zwithfsurface 79, the-hammer may 'pass into contact with the caps,.bu't if the safety member is in any other rotary position, it will be interposed Vbetween the under surface-of the hammer .and the upper surface of base 1= so that if the hammer should be accidentally released, it lwould strike the upper surface of vthe safety member and not come vin contact with `thecaps and in this manner apremature explosion would be prevented. 1

In the above descriptionfit has -already been explained'that the spindle 22 is rotated by means of a time controlledmechanism in such a way'that itfwill makeone complete revolution in twenty-fo`urhours andthat' the ange 28 4is provided with a scale 29l which isY graduated into twenty-four equal divisions, each of which represents one hour of time. I have'also explained thatthe -spindle yes it may be rotated with respect to gear wheel 21. When the bomb is'prepared for. use, the number of hours that are. to elapse between the time it is set'and-the time at which the explosion is to take place is decided on 'after which thel flange 28V is rotated together with the spindle v22 until lthepointer 81, Fig. 5, points to the desired'number;l ofhours. f [n the drawing pointer '81. has been shown .as indicating zero Y which corresponds lto Ithe relationship between the hammer and the safety member shown in Figure 2. If'the spindle is rotated away from zero position, safety member 31 will be moved into a position in which it will be interposed between thehammer and =the.base' and will act as 'a Istop for the hammer. f

:Referring .nowto FigureB, I wish tojcall attent-icute the fact that the arbor 'is rotatably mounted ina bearing consisting of ia bracket 82 having a curvedfsurface 83 .and vwhich is provided with-a removablecomple.- mentary member :84 that .iszsecured tQ-,the lbracket 82 by means of: screws SnArbr 50 i iis 'provided witlr- -a- 'isleever- .86E c Somewhat 'largerdiameter whose .outer surface: is sep-- :aratedl from the-inner surface: lofi. #the abeal.-

ings by means of leather? Sti-ip'SiST/@lhis `:forms afriction device .that fcooper'ates with the retarder 51 for the purpose iof, Controlling the operation of .the fdevice. Itis, ofcourse, lunderstood that the friction Vdevice must be so adjusted that thereis no :danger ofit rex'- erting suiticient'friction to prevent rotation of the retarderswhen they lare released by the detentf Secured'in'section 9 of the openings 564 are mercury fulminatecaps 88. These are heldin openings 64-'by means of friction kand are so 4located that whenever .the caps 69 are exploded the mercury fulminate will also explode .and will inj turn explode the dynamite 89 which surrounds them.

The mechanism which hasVv just been described is enclosed in a glass tube 90 which is substantially a quarter of an inch in thickness and whose inner diameter-is of the proper size to receive the casing2. A cap 91 is' secured to the upper end of the assembly described and has a flange 92 that extends over the tube 2 and also over the -top of the tubular glass member 90 and is separated from the latter by means of a gasket 93. A strap 94 surrounds the glass tube 90 and the cap 91 and is provided at its upper end with a clamping screw 95 which cooperates with a nut 96 and which can be forced downwardly into contact with the cap so as to hold the parts rigidly in assembled position.

Vhen the bomb is prepared for use,- the hammer 71 is moved upwardly into the position shown in Figure 3, after which the arbor 40 is rotated by means -of a key applied to the square end 41 so as to move the latching member 54 downwardly into the position shown in -F igure 3 in -iwhich position the hammer will be positively latched and held against the action of the spring. The position of the safety member 31 is now adjusted by rotating the cap 26 so that the figure corresponding to the number of hours that are to elapse between the setting of the bomb .and the explosion-register with the `arrow 81. A key can then be applied to the squared end-11?i of arbor 11 and the spring 12 tensioned so as to produce the necessary power vfor operating the-clock train. The time controlled mechanism will now begin .tofunction and will slowly rotate the spindle .22 inthe manner already described. Caps 69 lare putin `place on top of the anvils -66 .and the fulminate of mercury caps 88 are inserted into the openings 64. A Vfewpieces .of dynamite are now placed in the bottom of the glass tube after which the mechanism i'svinserted .into the glass tube in the manner -shown and secured thereto by means of the clamping strap 94 and screw .95. This bomb is now inserted in a-metal box. and' carefully lowered through: the well iopening .until it is .'nally deposited among. the nitroglycerine iat'.--the;.`bottomref ,fthe well. iT-he 'rope by means ofwhich .-itwas lowered .can now be disconnect-ed and removed, after which the icasings are pulled-,to the extent desired. At theelapse loftheftime for twhich the -bomb j-was set, the spindle22 will have been rotated ftosuchan .extent that the safety member 31 'occupies the position shown vin* Figui-e2 and 'at the 'same-time the detent member 32 will occupy theposition with-respect to the retarder 4blades 51 shownin Figure 12. As

soon as the blades 51 are released they are rotated by means of spring 38 and this permits'the pinion 52 to rotate the gear wheel and to move the latching member 54 upwardlyto the position shown in Figure. 11. 'As lsoon as the latching member has been moved upwardly to such an extent that the conical end 56 will be removed from the recess 77, the hammer will be released and will be rotatedl about its axis 7 2 by the action of the spring 7 4. As the hammer strikes the cap 69, this will explode and will in turn explode the fulminate caps andthe dynamite 89, thereby exploding the nitroglycerine charge at the bottom of the well.

Y. From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a bomb that is well suited for use in connection with the shooting of oil wells and which can also be used at any place where a charge. of high explosive is to be detonated at a predetermined time. This device, as above explained, is provided with a hammer that is latched in open position by means of a latching member which must be rotated before it can be moved longitudinally and which therefore assures a high degree of reliability, as it is almost impossible to accidentally displace such a latching member.

A safety device has been .provided whichv consists of the member 31, which is normally interposed between the anvils and the ham-A mer so that if the hammer isaceidentally released at any other time, than that 'for'y which the bomb is set, it will not come in' contact with the caps and will thereforenotcause the bomb to operate. The latching member' is held-in inoperative position by" means of a detent which permits the retard-- ers to rotate only at the time when the safety device 31 occupies such a position that the hammer, if released, can come in contact with the cap 69.

I also want to call attention to the fact that the time controlled means is operated by a separate spring from that which controls the latching member and that spring 12 is therefore never called upon to perform any other function than to operate the time controlled means, whereas spring 38 is limited to the function of releasing the latching means at such a time as the detent 32- permits the retarders 51 to rotate. h

Having described the invention what is claimed as new is:

l. A device of the class described comprising a base having an anvil adapted to receive a cap, a hammer adapted to strike the anvil, means comprising a spring for urging the hammer towards the anvil, a latch for holding the hammer in inoperative position, a safety device normally interposed in the path of the hammer, and means for first moving the safety device to inoperative position and then releasing the hammer.

2. A device of the class described comprising a base having an anvil adapted to receive a cap, a hammer adapted to strike the anvil, means comprising a spring for urging the hammer towards the anvil, a latch for holding the hammer in inoperative position, a safety device normally interposed in the path of the hammer, means comprising a spring for moving the latching means to inoperative position, a detent for holding that latch moving means in inoperative position, and means for moving the safety device to inoperative position and then releasing the latch moving means so that the latter will function andrelease the hammer.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a base having an anvil adapted to receive a cap, a hammer adapted to strike the anvil, means comprising a spring for moving the hammer towards the anvil, a latch for holding the hammer in inoperative position, a safety device comprising a member normally located in the path of the hammer and serving to space the hammer from the anvil, a time controlled means for moving the safety device to inoperative position at a predetermined time, means comprising a spring for moving the latch to inoperative position, means for holding the latchvmovingy means. inoperative position Vand means controlled by the `means that rcontrols tha-'position of the safety device forvrelea'singthe latch movingmeans whenever thesagtety, devicejis movedto'jinzoperativepositioni;` u

Ll; bombpf the lclass described comprisingtm' combin'ation,V a `base having "anvil 'adapted t0, receive, a Cer? a'mevbihimer adaptedl to be' moved intdeng'ageinent :with the anvil, means comprising a spring for moving the hammer towards the anvil, a latching device for holding the hammer in inoperative position in opposition to the action of the spring, means comprising a spring for releasing the hammer, a safety device normally interposed between the hammer and the anvil so that if the hammer is accidentallyl released it will be prevented from striking the anvil, means comprising a time controlled mechanism for moving the safety device to inoperative position at a predetermined time and for moving the latching device to inoperative position when the safety device has been moved to inoperative position.

5. A device of the class described, comprising, in combination, a base having an anvil adapted to receive a cap, a hammer movably connected with the base, means comprising a spring for urging the hammer towards the anvil, latching means for holding the hammer out of contact with the anvil against the action of the spring, saidlatching means .comprising a screw adapted to be moved into engagement with the hammer when rotated in one direction and to be moved out of engagement with the hammer when rotated in the opposite direction, means comprising a spring for rotating the screw out of hammer engaging position, a d etent for holding said means in inoperative position, a safety device interposed in the path of the hammer towards the anvil and means for simultaneously releasing the detent and for moving the safety device to inoperative position.

6. A device of the class described comprising, in combination, a base having an anvil adapted to receive a cap, a hammer movable into and out of engagement with the anvil, means comprising a spring for moving the hammer towards the anvil, a latching device for holding the hammer spaced from the anvil against the force eX- erted by the spring, a safety spacing member rotatably secured to the base, said member when in a given position permitting the hammer to strike the anvil, means for rotating the spacing member, and means for releasing the hammer latching device when the spacing member reaches inoperative position.

7. A device of the class described, comprising, a base having an anvil adapted to ery a ein hammer" ineffable' into and ont of engagement with the anvil, a spring associated with the hammer and base for moving the hammer towards the anvil, a latc'hing device for holding the hammer againsothe; action `of the spring, spring 1 means zfor .moving the latching device to inoperative position, a detentfor holding s the springmeaiis inoperative, a safety' device interposed in the path 'of the'hammer 10 "rRANKLnsHq 

